Saturday, August 31, 2019

NPR News: Hurricane Dorian Heads For Bahamas

Hurricane Dorian Heads For Bahamas
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Rick Lohr, general manager of the Abaco Beach Resort in The Bahamas, about how he is bracing for Hurricane Dorian.

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NPR News: Friday News Roundup - International

Friday News Roundup - International
We talk about the suspension of Britain's Parliament, the G7 Summit, a U.S. cyberattack on Iran and more.

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NPR News: Friday News Roundup - International

Friday News Roundup - International
We talk about the suspension of Britain's Parliament, the G7 Summit, a U.S. cyberattack on Iran and more.

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NPR News: Friday News Roundup - Domestic

Friday News Roundup - Domestic
The winnowing of the 2020 presidential candidate field continues. Also, we cover other stories.

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NPR News: UK Biobank Requires Earth's Geneticists To Cooperate, Not Compete

UK Biobank Requires Earth's Geneticists To Cooperate, Not Compete
A project that shares medical information from 500,000 volunteers is driving innovative research around the world. The richness of the database means scientists are motivated to make it even better.

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NPR News: UK Biobank Requires Earth's Geneticists To Cooperate, Not Compete

UK Biobank Requires Earth's Geneticists To Cooperate, Not Compete
A project that shares medical information from 500,000 volunteers is driving innovative research around the world. The richness of the database means scientists are motivated to make it even better.

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Friday, August 30, 2019

NPR News: How Gamergate Became A Template For Malicious Action Online

How Gamergate Became A Template For Malicious Action Online
An anonymous harassment campaign against women in video game development and journalism began five years ago. Eventually known as Gamergate, it became a template for malicious action online.

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NPR News: Australia Says Great Barrier Reef Has 'Very Poor' Outlook, Climate Change To Blame

Australia Says Great Barrier Reef Has 'Very Poor' Outlook, Climate Change To Blame
"Despite concerted efforts and investments, the condition of the Great Barrier Reef has declined since 2014, and this is largely due to the impacts from climate change," the main scientist said.

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NPR News: Australia Says Great Barrier Reef Has 'Very Poor' Outlook, Climate Change To Blame

Australia Says Great Barrier Reef Has 'Very Poor' Outlook, Climate Change To Blame
"Despite concerted efforts and investments, the condition of the Great Barrier Reef has declined since 2014, and this is largely due to the impacts from climate change," the main scientist said.

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NASA to Provide Coverage of Hurricane Dorian

NASA will be tracking Hurricane Dorian throughout this Labor Day weekend. The agency will provide status updates on the storm as it nears Florida and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on the state’s central east coast, as well as updated video and imagery.

August 30, 2019
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NPR News: U.S. Mainland Braces For Hurricane Dorian As It Intensifies Over The Atlantic

U.S. Mainland Braces For Hurricane Dorian As It Intensifies Over The Atlantic
The storm is traveling at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

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NPR News: Oil Industry Group Responds To Methane Limit Rollback

Oil Industry Group Responds To Methane Limit Rollback
NPR's Noel King talks with Erik Milito of the American Petroleum Institute about the Trump administration's proposal to roll back Obama-era regulations on methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

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Thursday, August 29, 2019

NPR News: EPA Aims To Roll Back Limits On Methane Emissions From Oil And Gas Industry

EPA Aims To Roll Back Limits On Methane Emissions From Oil And Gas Industry
"This would be a huge step backward," said one environmental advocate. "It would cause greatly increased pollution." The Trump administration says it will help the oil and gas industry save money.

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NPR News: Former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister Weighs In On Rollback Of Emissions Rules

Former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister Weighs In On Rollback Of Emissions Rules
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister about how rolling back methane emissions restrictions will affect the fossil fuel industry.

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NPR News: Not All Oil Companies Support Trump Administration's Rollback Of Methane Emission Rule

Not All Oil Companies Support Trump Administration's Rollback Of Methane Emission Rule
The Trump administration wants to weaken regulation of methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas. The move faces opposition from environmentalists and some in the oil and gas industry.

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NPR News: 1A Across America: A Conversation With Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

1A Across America: A Conversation With Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
We ask him your questions. We also discuss corndogs.

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NPR News: China Intercepts WeChat Texts From U.S. And Abroad, Researcher Says

China Intercepts WeChat Texts From U.S. And Abroad, Researcher Says
A cyber researcher says he found unsecured databases in China storing billions of conversations and user information from the app. NPR spoke to U.S. citizens who say their messages were blocked.

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NPR News: After Months In A Dish, Lab-Grown Minibrains Start Making 'Brain Waves'

After Months In A Dish, Lab-Grown Minibrains Start Making 'Brain Waves'
Researchers say clusters of human brain cells grown in the lab can spontaneously generate electrical patterns similar to the brain waves of 6-month-old fetus.

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NPR News: After Months In A Dish, Lab-Grown Minibrains Start Making 'Brain Waves'

After Months In A Dish, Lab-Grown Minibrains Start Making 'Brain Waves'
Researchers say clusters of human brain cells grown in the lab can spontaneously generate electrical patterns similar to the brain waves of 6-month-old fetus.

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NPR News: Whatever Happened To ... The Kids Whose Lead Levels Were Off The Charts?

Whatever Happened To ... The Kids Whose Lead Levels Were Off The Charts?
They live in the lead-contaminated village of Kabwe, Zambia. A World Bank loan for lead clean-up offered reason for hope. A new report assesses the current situation.

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NPR News: A Story Of Nazi Uranium

A Story Of Nazi Uranium
A cube of uranium from a Nazi nuclear reactor has turned up in Maryland. Now two researchers are trying to figure out how it got there and what happened to similar artifacts.

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NPR News: Mangroves, Climate Change And Hurricanes

Mangroves, Climate Change And Hurricanes
Climate change is extending the range of mangroves. The tropical trees are thriving farther north and south than ever before. Scientists say that's actually helping limit damage during hurricanes.

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NPR News: Duped In The Deli Aisle? 'No Nitrates Added' Labels Are Often Misleading

Duped In The Deli Aisle? 'No Nitrates Added' Labels Are Often Misleading
Consumer groups are urging the USDA to change labeling rules for processed meats. They argue that 'Uncured' and 'No nitrates added' labels may falsely lead people to believe these meats are healthier.

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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

NPR News: Trump Administration Opens Door To Dropping Florida's Key Deer From Endangered List

Trump Administration Opens Door To Dropping Florida's Key Deer From Endangered List
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials recommended that Key Deer be "delisted due to recovery," but advocates say the Key Deer population was hard hit by Hurricane Irma and its aftermath.

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NASA Awards Contract for Flight Dynamics Support Services

NASA has awarded the Flight Dynamics Support Services (FDSS) III contract, a small business set-aside, to OPR, LLC of Beltsville, Maryland, to provide flight dynamics support services to, and related service support for, the Engineering and Technology Directorate’s Mission and Systems Analysis Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Green

August 28, 2019
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NPR News: American Farmers Are Paying A Price For Trump’s Tariffs

American Farmers Are Paying A Price For Trump’s Tariffs
Could this dispute hasten the end of the family farm?

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NASA Invites Students to Name Next Mars Rover

Red rover, red rover, send a name for Mars 2020 right over! NASA is recruiting help from students nationwide to find a name for its next Mars rover mission.

August 28, 2019
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North Carolina Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut on Space Station

Students in North Carolina will talk live this week with a NASA astronaut currently living and working aboard the International Space Station.

August 28, 2019
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NPR News: Sand, Sunscreen and... Sharks! Cape Cod Beach Towns Do More To Keep People Safe

Sand, Sunscreen and... Sharks! Cape Cod Beach Towns Do More To Keep People Safe
One year after a young man died in a shark attack, Cape Cod beach towns are adding emergency services and high tech detection. An influx of great whites followed a rebound in the seal population.

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NPR News: Sand, Sunscreen and... Sharks! Cape Cod Beach Towns Do More To Keep People Safe

Sand, Sunscreen and... Sharks! Cape Cod Beach Towns Do More To Keep People Safe
One year after a young man died in a shark attack, Cape Cod beach towns are adding emergency services and high tech detection. An influx of great whites followed a rebound in the seal population.

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NPR News: Teen Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives In New York After Sailing The Atlantic

Teen Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives In New York After Sailing The Atlantic
A 16-year-old Swedish activist chose sailing over flying to attend a United Nations climate summit. She's inspired young people around the world to protest for more climate action.

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NPR News: Teen Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives In New York After Sailing The Atlantic

Teen Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives In New York After Sailing The Atlantic
A 16-year-old Swedish activist chose sailing over flying to attend a United Nations climate summit. She's inspired young people around the world to protest for more climate action.

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NPR News: Giant Pumice Raft Floating Toward Australia May Have Environmental Benefits

Giant Pumice Raft Floating Toward Australia May Have Environmental Benefits
A giant mass of volcanic rock larger than the size of Manhattan is drifting toward Australia. Scientists hope it could help replenish the Great Barrier Reef.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

NPR News: As Puerto Rico Braces For Storm, DHS, FEMA To Move $271 Million To Border Operations

As Puerto Rico Braces For Storm, DHS, FEMA To Move $271 Million To Border Operations
The Department of Homeland Security will move millions in emergency funds for new detention beds and facilities for court cases. House Democrats slammed the move, calling it "backwards and cruel."

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NPR News: How The Fires In The Amazon Rainforest Will Impact The Global Ecosystem

How The Fires In The Amazon Rainforest Will Impact The Global Ecosystem
NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Dan Nepstad, president and founder of the Earth Innovation Institute, about the immediate and longer-term impact of fires in the Amazon.

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NPR News: Friday News Roundup - International

Friday News Roundup - International
The world is on fire. No, seriously.

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NPR News: More Companies Are Taking On The Challenge Of Capturing Carbon Dioxide

More Companies Are Taking On The Challenge Of Capturing Carbon Dioxide
To address climate change, scientists say countries will need to capture and contain mass amounts of carbon dioxide. It's a technical and financial challenge that more companies are taking on.

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NPR News: 'Vagina Bible' Tackles Health And Politics In A Guide To Female Physiology

'Vagina Bible' Tackles Health And Politics In A Guide To Female Physiology
Frustrated with online marketing sites that peddle needless 'health aids' and fears, gynecologist and columnist Jen Gunter aims to dispel myths about the female body and restore power to patients.

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NPR News: The Scientific Debate Over Teens, Screens And Mental Health

The Scientific Debate Over Teens, Screens And Mental Health
What's the link between smartphone use and teens' mental health? Experts disagree, with some arguing that the threat is overblown.

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NPR News: Protesters In New Jersey Draw Attention To Lead In Newark's Drinking Water

Protesters In New Jersey Draw Attention To Lead In Newark's Drinking Water
Many Newark residents are relying on bottled water, as city leaders struggle to address the crisis. Protests happened against the backdrop of MTV's Video Music Awards, which were held in New Jersey.

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NPR News: Teen Activist Will Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions On Her Way To U.N. Summit

Teen Activist Will Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions On Her Way To U.N. Summit
A 16-year-old Swedish activist has sailed the Atlantic to attend a U.N. climate summit. She's become a high-profile presence in climate diplomacy, and inspired teens to push for action.

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NPR News: French Wine Gets Caught Up In France's New Tax On Big Tech

French Wine Gets Caught Up In France's New Tax On Big Tech
At the G7 Summit, President Trump declined to say if he had backed down from his threat to place tariffs on French wine in retaliation for that country's new tax on digital giants.

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NPR News: Musical Instruments To Be Exempt From Restrictions On Heavily Trafficked Rosewood

Musical Instruments To Be Exempt From Restrictions On Heavily Trafficked Rosewood
An international endangered species treaty that placed trade restrictions on rosewood is poised to exempt musical instruments from the regulations.

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NPR News: A Newer, Faster Way To Detect Norovirus In Water Supplies

A Newer, Faster Way To Detect Norovirus In Water Supplies
Norovirus sickens tens of millions of people each year. They get the disease from contaminated food or water. Engineers have developed a rapid, inexpensive test to detect the virus in water supplies.

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Monday, August 26, 2019

NPR News: Flood Of Money Could Fast Track Newark's Plan To Replace Lead Pipes Amid Water Crisis

Flood Of Money Could Fast Track Newark's Plan To Replace Lead Pipes Amid Water Crisis
A $120 million loan could cut up to 8 years off a project to swap out pipes that are contaminating water as it flows from the city's primary processing plant into homes.

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NPR News: SOS From Brazil's Amazon Fire Protesters: 'We Need The World's Help Right Now'

SOS From Brazil's Amazon Fire Protesters: 'We Need The World's Help Right Now'
Protesters took to the streets across Brazil this weekend to voice outrage over the fires burning through the Amazon.

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NPR News: Privacy Experts Say The Trade-Offs Of Tech To Track Kids In School Aren't Worth It

Privacy Experts Say The Trade-Offs Of Tech To Track Kids In School Aren't Worth It
The use of tech to track and police our kids in school is growing and privacy experts say the trade-offs aren't worth it.

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NPR News: Indonesia's President Unveils Plan To Move Capital From Jakarta To Borneo

Indonesia's President Unveils Plan To Move Capital From Jakarta To Borneo
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with conservation scientist Erik Meijaard about why Jakarta is sinking and the plan to move Indonesia's capital to Borneo — where a whole new set of problems awaits.

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NPR News: Whatever Happened To ... The Mysterious Kidney Disease Striking Central America?

Whatever Happened To ... The Mysterious Kidney Disease Striking Central America?
Some researchers now say that tens of thousands of deaths due to kidney failure may be linked to climate change. But others aren't so sure.

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NPR News: Study Questions Mainstay Treatment For Mild Asthma

Study Questions Mainstay Treatment For Mild Asthma
Many of the 26 million Americans with asthma use a low-dose steroid inhaler daily to prevent symptoms. But a recent study raises questions about this strategy for people with mild, persistent asthma.

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NPR News: Study Questions Mainstay Treatment For Mild Asthma

Study Questions Mainstay Treatment For Mild Asthma
Many of the 26 million Americans with asthma use a low-dose steroid inhaler daily to prevent symptoms. But a recent study raises questions about this strategy for people with mild, persistent asthma.

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NPR News: Congress Mulls Ban On Chinese Trains And Buses. Oh, Come On, Builder Says

Congress Mulls Ban On Chinese Trains And Buses. Oh, Come On, Builder Says
A bill would curtail cities' ability to buy transit equipment on economic and national security grounds. The manufacturer says it's all hysteria — plus there are no U.S. builders anyway.

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

NPR News: 'Painting' The Ghost Forests Of The Mid-Atlantic Coast

'Painting' The Ghost Forests Of The Mid-Atlantic Coast
A photographer uses watercolors sensitized to light to make ethereal images of dying trees on the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. As sea levels rise, these haunting sights will only continue to grow.

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NPR News: Robots Compete In Disaster Test

Robots Compete In Disaster Test
Robotics teams from all over the country compete in Pennsylvania in the Subterranean Challenge to see whose robot performs best in a simulated mine disaster scenario.

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NPR News: Cancer Fears Over Ethylene Oxide In Georgia

Cancer Fears Over Ethylene Oxide In Georgia
Federal data recently linked emissions of the widely used chemical ethylene oxide to a higher risk of cancer. Now there are calls to shut down two plants that use it near Atlanta.

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NPR News: Academic Science Rethinks All-Too-White 'Dude Walls' Of Honor

Academic Science Rethinks All-Too-White 'Dude Walls' Of Honor
Historic portraits of revered scientists and doctors can be found all over medical schools and universities — and, as it happens, most feature white men. Some say this sends the wrong message.

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NPR News: Robots Compete In Disaster Test

Robots Compete In Disaster Test
Robotics teams from all over the country compete in Pennsylvania in the Subterranean Challenge to see whose robot performs best in a simulated mine disaster scenario.

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NPR News: Getting Coral To Reproduce

Getting Coral To Reproduce
NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Florida Aquarium's lead coral scientist Keri O'Neil about getting stone coral to repeatedly reproduce in a lab setting. This could help save global coral populations.

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Saturday, August 24, 2019

NPR News: Amid Mixed Messaging, Brazil's Bolsonaro Sends Troops To Fight Amazon Fires

Amid Mixed Messaging, Brazil's Bolsonaro Sends Troops To Fight Amazon Fires
Under pressure in his country and abroad, Brazil's president is using military resources to fight fires in the Amazon and take action against those setting them.

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NPR News: The Birds: Nesting Impedes Construction In Virginia

The Birds: Nesting Impedes Construction In Virginia
Crews in Virginia are preparing for that state's largest construction project, but they face an unusual obstacle — 25,000 seabirds nesting on their staging area.

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Friday, August 23, 2019

NPR News: What Satellite Imagery Can Tell Us About The Fires Burning In The Amazon

What Satellite Imagery Can Tell Us About The Fires Burning In The Amazon
NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Doug Morton of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center about what satellite imagery can tell us about the cause and extent of the fires in Brazil.

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NPR News: Brazilians Take To The Streets To Protest Deforestation Of The Amazon

Brazilians Take To The Streets To Protest Deforestation Of The Amazon
Brazilians have taken to the streets in protest over destruction being done to the Amazon through wildfires and tree cutting. They say the new right-wing president is fueling the destruction.

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NPR News: Why Norway And Germany Have Frozen Money Going To The Amazon Fund

Why Norway And Germany Have Frozen Money Going To The Amazon Fund
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Nature correspondent Jeff Tollefson about the Amazon Fund and the web of diplomacy aiming to prevent deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

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NPR News: Keystone Pipeline's Alternate Route Gets The Go-Ahead From Nebraska Court

Keystone Pipeline's Alternate Route Gets The Go-Ahead From Nebraska Court
A group of activists, Native American tribes and local landowners had challenged the controversial pipeline's 2017 approval. But the state Supreme Court unanimously rejected that challenge Friday.

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NPR News: The Amazon Rainforest, Ablaze In Brazil

The Amazon Rainforest, Ablaze In Brazil
There have been 74,155 fires in Brazil so far this year, mostly in the Amazon, and about half of which have ignited in just the past month. Some international leaders are raising the alarm.

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NASA Invites Media to Silicon Valley Center for Celebration of Women Leaders

Media are invited to join NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, astronaut Megan McArthur and several special guests, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, for a Women's Equality Day event Monday, Aug. 26 at NASA's Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.

August 23, 2019
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NPR News: Putin To Russian Military: 'Prepare A Symmetrical Response' To U.S. Missile Test

Putin To Russian Military: 'Prepare A Symmetrical Response' To U.S. Missile Test
His remarks come after a U.S. Defense Department test of a modified Navy Tomahawk cruise missile, and the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between Washington and Moscow.

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NPR News: In Brazil, Tens Of Thousands Of Fires Ravage Amazon Rainforest

In Brazil, Tens Of Thousands Of Fires Ravage Amazon Rainforest
NPR's David Greene talks to Jake Spring, a reporter for Reuters, about much of Brazil's Amazon rainforest being ravaged by fire. There's been an 80 percent increase in fires over the last year.

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NPR News: News Brief: Rainforest Fires, G-2 Summit, Iran's Economy

News Brief: Rainforest Fires, G-2 Summit, Iran's Economy
Wildfires are spreading in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. The G-7 summit opens Saturday in France. And Iranians answer this question: Who do you blame for Iran's economic troubles?

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NPR News: Unsafe Lead Levels Detected In Drinking Water In Newark, N.J.

Unsafe Lead Levels Detected In Drinking Water In Newark, N.J.
Residents of Newark are receiving bottled water after elevated lead levels were detected in their drinking water. But there's confusion over who should get the bottled water.

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NPR News: YouTube Channels Suspended For 'Coordinated' Influence Campaign Against Hong Kong

YouTube Channels Suspended For 'Coordinated' Influence Campaign Against Hong Kong
The announcement by Google, which owns YouTube, comes days after Facebook and Twitter suspended accounts for an alleged campaign to manipulate public opinion about Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests.

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Thursday, August 22, 2019

NPR News: Phone Companies Ink Deal With All 50 States And D.C. To Combat Robocalls

Phone Companies Ink Deal With All 50 States And D.C. To Combat Robocalls
In the plan, service providers will provide technology to combat a practice known as "spoofing" to aid state attorneys general in locating and prosecuting the fraudulent robocallers.

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NPR News: Scientists In New York Are Trying To Edit The DNA In Human Sperm

Scientists In New York Are Trying To Edit The DNA In Human Sperm
NPR got exclusive access to the only lab known to be trying to edit the DNA in human sperm, which raises all the same thorny issues as modifying genes in human embryos

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NPR News: Scientists In New York Are Trying To Edit The DNA In Human Sperm

Scientists In New York Are Trying To Edit The DNA In Human Sperm
NPR got exclusive access to the only lab known to be trying to edit the DNA in human sperm, which raises all the same thorny issues as modifying genes in human embryos

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NPR News: How Dr. Kenneth Davis Turned the Mount Sinai Health System Around

How Dr. Kenneth Davis Turned the Mount Sinai Health System Around
The neurobiologist oversaw one of the largest financial turnarounds in academic medicine.

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NPR News: How Dr. Kenneth Davis Turned the Mount Sinai Health System Around

How Dr. Kenneth Davis Turned the Mount Sinai Health System Around
The neurobiologist oversaw one of the largest financial turnarounds in academic medicine.

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NPR News: Craig From Craigslist Talks Philanthropy, The Election and More

Craig From Craigslist Talks Philanthropy, The Election and More
What's the self-proclaimed "nerd" up to these days? And what will he be up to in the near future?

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NPR News: How The Issue Of Climate Change Is Shaping The Democratic Primaries

How The Issue Of Climate Change Is Shaping The Democratic Primaries
Climate activists have been pushing the Democratic party to hold a debate on their issue. Most candidates have clear plans to combat climate change, with Bernie Sanders releasing his on Wednesday.

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NPR News: Satellites Show Thousands Of Fires Sweeping Through Brazil's Amazon Rainforest

Satellites Show Thousands Of Fires Sweeping Through Brazil's Amazon Rainforest
Fires are always burning in the Amazon. But wildfires have surged 83% since this time last year, according to Brazil's space agency. Satellites have spotted more than 9,500 wildfires this past week.

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NPR News: Lack Of Diversity In Genetic Databases Hampers Research

Lack Of Diversity In Genetic Databases Hampers Research
Scientists around the world are working to correct a problem with genetic health information — too much of it is currently based on samples of Europeans.

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NPR News: Face Recognition Lets Palestinians Cross Israeli Checkposts Fast, But Raises Concerns

Face Recognition Lets Palestinians Cross Israeli Checkposts Fast, But Raises Concerns
Israel has begun using the technology at its West Bank checkpoints to verify Palestinians' identities as they cross into Israel. The new system means shorter wait times but is drawing criticism.

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NASA TV to Air US Cargo Ship Departure from Space Station

Filled with almost 2,700 pounds of valuable scientific experiments and other cargo, a SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft is set to leave the International Space Station Tuesday, Aug. 27. NASA Television and the agency’s website will broadcast its departure live beginning at 10:15 a.m. EDT.

August 22, 2019
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NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir Available for Last Interviews Before Space Mission

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir will be available from 7 to 8:15 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 4, for her final live satellite interviews before launching on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

August 22, 2019
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NPR News: No Link Between Fines And Safety In Mines, Government Audit Says

No Link Between Fines And Safety In Mines, Government Audit Says
A Labor Department audit found no correlation between the federal system that fines mining companies for unsafe conditions and safety in mining operations.

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NPR News: Morning News Brief

Morning News Brief
The Congressional Budget Office revises its federal deficit estimate. New policy would allow the government to indefinitely detain children with their families. And, the results of a DNA experiment.

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NPR News: Activists Push Democrats On Climate Change, A New Priority For Party's Base

Activists Push Democrats On Climate Change, A New Priority For Party's Base
The Sunrise Movement is holding rallies and registering voters, aiming to boost turnout among young voters. For the first time, polls show climate change is a top priority for the party's base.

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

NPR News: How Arctic Fires Are Impacting Earth's Atmosphere

How Arctic Fires Are Impacting Earth's Atmosphere
More than two million acres of forest have burned in Alaska this year. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with climate change researcher Nancy Fresco about the impact these fires have on the Earth's atmosphere.

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NPR News: YouTuber Marques Brownlee Talks Ten Years of Tech

YouTuber Marques Brownlee Talks Ten Years of Tech
The 25-year-old has gone from posting tech reviews in his childhood home to interviewing Tesla's Elon Musk.

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NPR News: Tens Of Thousands Of Fires Ravage Brazilian Amazon, Where Deforestation Has Spiked

Tens Of Thousands Of Fires Ravage Brazilian Amazon, Where Deforestation Has Spiked
Researchers say there's been a huge rise in the number of fires compared to last year. That's likely linked with a similar leap in deforestation since President Jair Bolsonaro took office.

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NPR News: Wildlife Staff Outside Denver Work To Stop The Spread Of Plague Among Prairie Dogs

Wildlife Staff Outside Denver Work To Stop The Spread Of Plague Among Prairie Dogs
An outbreak of plague has struck a prairie dog population outside of Denver. NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with research wildlife biologist Dean Biggins about the risks to the region's ecology.

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NPR News: What Can Be Done To Fight Back Against Ransomware Attacks

What Can Be Done To Fight Back Against Ransomware Attacks
NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Josephine Wolff, a professor at Tufts University, about software that is available to help ransomware victims recover their files and why it is rarely used in the U.S.

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NPR News: Naked And Unafraid: 6 Wild Facts About Naked Mole Rats

Naked And Unafraid: 6 Wild Facts About Naked Mole Rats
Picture a hairless, wrinkly rodent about the size of a small sweet potato — kinda cool, kinda weird. They also are extraordinarily long-lived. Researchers are lining up to study their secrets.

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NPR News: Naked And Unafraid: 6 Wild Facts About Naked Mole Rats

Naked And Unafraid: 6 Wild Facts About Naked Mole Rats
Picture a hairless, wrinkly rodent about the size of a small sweet potato--kinda cool, kinda weird. They also are extraordinarily long-lived. Researchers are lining up to study learn their secrets.

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NPR News: Subtle Differences In Brain Cells Hint at Why Many Drugs Help Mice But Not People

Subtle Differences In Brain Cells Hint at Why Many Drugs Help Mice But Not People
A detailed comparison of mouse and human brain tissue found differences that could help explain why mice aren't always a good model for human diseases.

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NPR News: Subtle Differences In Brain Cells Hint at Why Many Drugs Help Mice But Not People

Subtle Differences In Brain Cells Hint at Why Many Drugs Help Mice But Not People
A detailed comparison of mouse and human brain tissue found differences that could help explain why mice aren't always a good model for human diseases.

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NPR News: Primaries On The Way To The Presidency

Primaries On The Way To The Presidency
What are voters in Iowa and New Hampshire thinking about the crop of Democratic candidates?

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NASA Administrator to Tour New Colorado Aerospace Complex, Discuss Artemis Program

Media are invited to accompany NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at 10 a.m. MDT Friday, Aug. 23, during his visit to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he will tour a newly-completed aerospace engineering complex.

August 21, 2019
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NPR News: More U.S. Towns Are Feeling The Pinch As Recycling Becomes Costlier

More U.S. Towns Are Feeling The Pinch As Recycling Becomes Costlier
The U.S. recycling industry is facing a quandary: Too much of the plastic we use can't be recycled, and taxpayers increasingly are on the hook for paying for all that trash to hit the landfills.

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NPR News: More U.S. Towns Are Feeling The Pinch As Recycling Becomes Costlier

More U.S. Towns Are Feeling The Pinch As Recycling Becomes Costlier
The U.S. recycling industry is facing a quandary: Too much of the plastic we use can't be recycled, and taxpayers increasingly are on the hook for paying for all that trash to hit the landfills.

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NPR News: More U.S. Towns Are Feeling The Pinch As Recycling Becomes Costlier

More U.S. Towns Are Feeling The Pinch As Recycling Becomes Costlier
The U.S. recycling industry is facing a quandary: Too much of the plastic we use can't be recycled, and taxpayers increasingly are on the hook for paying for all that trash to hit the landfills.

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NPR News: How A Tip — And Facial Recognition Technology — Helped The FBI Catch A Killer

How A Tip — And Facial Recognition Technology — Helped The FBI Catch A Killer
Even as civil libertarians warn about the increased use of facial recognition by federal authorities, the bureau is using it to track down some of its most wanted suspects.

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Tuesday, August 20, 2019

NPR News: How The Flying Shame Movement Got Off The Ground

How The Flying Shame Movement Got Off The Ground
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Umair Irfan, who covers climate change and the environment for Vox, about the flying shame movement and what can be done about carbon emissions from air travel.

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NPR News: Why Sea Level Rise Varies Across The World

Why Sea Level Rise Varies Across The World
The sea level is rising more in some coastal places than in others. But why is that? It has to do with wind, currents, glaciers and even the last Ice Age.

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NPR News: Twitter And Facebook Shut Down Fake Propaganda Accounts Run By Chinese Government

Twitter And Facebook Shut Down Fake Propaganda Accounts Run By Chinese Government
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Adam Segal, at the Council on Foreign Relations, about Facebook and Twitter shutting down hundreds of fake accounts run by the Chinese government.

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NPR News: U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling to Figure Out A Future Without China

U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling to Figure Out A Future Without China
China is no longer taking the world's waste. The U.S. recycling industry is overwhelmed — it can't keep up with the plastic being churned out. This doesn't bode well for our plastic waste problem.

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NPR News: U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling to Figure Out A Future Without China

U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling to Figure Out A Future Without China
China is no longer taking the world's waste. The U.S. recycling industry is overwhelmed — it can't keep up with the plastic being churned out. This doesn't bode well for our plastic waste problem.

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NPR News: Notre Dame Repair Crews Are Back To Work, But Paris' Lead Concerns Remain

Notre Dame Repair Crews Are Back To Work, But Paris' Lead Concerns Remain
Environmental and labor groups complain the cleanup should have begun sooner and are concerned about health risks in Paris.

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NPR News: Opinion: Ironic, Informal And Expressive, 'New Rules Of Language' Evolve Online

Opinion: Ironic, Informal And Expressive, 'New Rules Of Language' Evolve Online
A lively new book by Gretchen McCulloch dissects the common vernacular that forms the cornerstone of online communication. Because Internet parses emojis, lols and punctuation — or lack thereof.

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NPR News: 23 Texas Towns Hit With Ransomware Attack In 'New Front' Of Cyberassault

23 Texas Towns Hit With Ransomware Attack In 'New Front' Of Cyberassault
Investigators haven't identified who or what is behind the attack that took systems offline, but the Texas Department of Information Resources says the evidence points to "one single threat actor."

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NPR News: How China Uses Twitter And Facebook To Share Disinformation About Hong Kong

How China Uses Twitter And Facebook To Share Disinformation About Hong Kong
Russia gets most of the attention when it comes to malicious use of social media by state actors. The protests in Hong Kong have made clear China is using the same playbook.

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NPR News: Hong Kong Protests: China Accused Of Using Fake Social Media Accounts

Hong Kong Protests: China Accused Of Using Fake Social Media Accounts
Facebook and Twitter have suspended accounts associated with the Chinese government, accusing officials of using those accounts to spread disinformation to disrupt the Hong Kong protests.

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NPR News: Employees Demand Google Publicly Commit To Not Work With ICE

Employees Demand Google Publicly Commit To Not Work With ICE
The petition by more than a thousand Google employees is forcing the tech giant's hand at a time when it is risky for Silicon Valley to criticize the Trump administration.

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NPR News: Employees Demand Google Publicly Commit To Not Working With ICE

Employees Demand Google Publicly Commit To Not Working With ICE
More than a thousand Google employees are demanding that the company commit publicly to not work with U.S. immigration enforcement agencies — including the Border Patrol and ICE.

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NPR News: Perfect Storm Hits U.S. Recycling Industry

Perfect Storm Hits U.S. Recycling Industry
Since Woodbury, N.J., began the nation's first mandatory curbside recycling program, the industry is in trouble. China has stopped taking all the plastic so facilities are overwhelmed.

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NPR News: Perfect Storm Hits U.S. Recycling Industry

Perfect Storm Hits U.S. Recycling Industry
Since Woodbury, N.J., began the nation's first mandatory curbside recycling program, the industry is in trouble. China has stopped taking all the plastic so facilities are overwhelmed.

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NPR News: Cigarettes Can't Be Advertised On TV. Should Juul Ads Be Permitted?

Cigarettes Can't Be Advertised On TV. Should Juul Ads Be Permitted?
Though tobacco ads have been banned from TV for about 50 years, the marketing of electronic cigarettes isn't constrained by the law. Public health advocates consider that a loophole that hurts kids.

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NPR News: Cigarettes Can't Be Advertised On TV. Should Juul Ads Be Permitted?

Cigarettes Can't Be Advertised On TV. Should Juul Ads Be Permitted?
Though tobacco ads have been banned from TV for about 50 years, the marketing of electronic cigarettes isn't constrained by the law. Public health advocates consider that a loophole that hurts kids.

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NPR News: Unanswered Questions Leave Californians Worried About Fire Season

Unanswered Questions Leave Californians Worried About Fire Season
Warm temperatures have Californians again bracing for wildfires. But to better prepare, the residents of Ventura say they need a clearer picture of what went wrong in the destructive 2017 Thomas Fire.

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Monday, August 19, 2019

NPR News: California Residents Say They Need More Information On Previous Wildfires To Prepare

California Residents Say They Need More Information On Previous Wildfires To Prepare
Warm temperatures have Californians again bracing for wildfires. But to better prepare, the residents of Ventura say they need a clearer picture of what went wrong in the destructive 2017 Thomas Fire.

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NASA Television to Broadcast Sixth Meeting of the National Space Council

NASA Television and the agency’s website will provide live coverage of the sixth meeting of the National Space Council at 9:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 20, from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

August 19, 2019
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NASA Administrator, Members of Congress to Discuss Ohio’s Role in Artemis Program

Media are invited to accompany NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, U.S. Senator Rob Portman and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio Wednesday, Aug. 21, as they visit the agency’s Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland and Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, to view progress on the agency’s Artemis program.

August 19, 2019
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NPR News: New Research Casts Doubt On Connection Between Smartphone Use And Teen Mental Health

New Research Casts Doubt On Connection Between Smartphone Use And Teen Mental Health
New research casts doubt on the connection between smartphone use and teens' mental health. Some argue it is a case of correlation, not causation, and that the threat is overblown.

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NASA Awards Contract for Specialized Engineering, Evaluation, Test Services

NASA has awarded the NASA-wide Specialized Engineering, Evaluation and Test Services (NSEETS) contract to the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California, to provide on- and off-site project management, independent multidisciplinary engineering services, testing, consulting, contractor on-site monitoring, and evaluation of project and/or progra

August 19, 2019
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NPR News: Cave Diver Risks All To Explore Places 'Where Nobody Has Ever Been'

Cave Diver Risks All To Explore Places 'Where Nobody Has Ever Been'
"The big picture of survival is sometimes so hard to see, but we always know what we can do to make the next best step toward survival," says cave diver, photographer and memoirist Jill Heinerth.

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NPR News: Cave Diver Risks All To Explore Places 'Where Nobody Has Ever Been'

Cave Diver Risks All To Explore Places 'Where Nobody Has Ever Been'
"The big picture of survival is sometimes so hard to see, but we always know what we can do to make the next best step toward survival," says cave diver, photographer and memoirist Jill Heinerth.

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NPR News: The CBD Market Is Booming. What Do We Know About The Product?

The CBD Market Is Booming. What Do We Know About The Product?
I Can't Believe It's Not Weed!

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NPR News: Can Maternal Fluoride Consumption During Pregnancy Lower Children's Intelligence?

Can Maternal Fluoride Consumption During Pregnancy Lower Children's Intelligence?
A Canadian study suggests that fluoride consumed by pregnant women can affect the IQ of their children. No single study provides definitive answers, but the findings will no doubt stir debate.

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NPR News: The End Is Nigh For FogCam, Billed As The Internet's Oldest Running Webcam

The End Is Nigh For FogCam, Billed As The Internet's Oldest Running Webcam
The webcam at San Francisco State University has been in operation since 1994. Now, its creators say they plan to sunset the Internet landmark by the end of the month.

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NPR News: The End Is Nigh For FogCam, Billed As The Internet's Oldest Running Webcam

The End Is Nigh For FogCam, Billed As The Internet's Oldest Running Webcam
The webcam has been in operation at San Francisco State University since 1994. Now, its creators say they plan to sunset the Internet landmark by the end of the month.

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NPR News: U.S. Gives Huawei Another 90-Day Reprieve Amid Concerns Of Rural Service Disruptions

U.S. Gives Huawei Another 90-Day Reprieve Amid Concerns Of Rural Service Disruptions
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the decision was made in part to minimize disruption in parts of America that rely heavily on Huawei's equipment to serve remote areas.

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NPR News: Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help Melt It Away

Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help Melt It Away
A recent study found virtual reality experiences were better at easing pain than watching televised nature scenes. Immersive distraction seems key to the success, scientists say.

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NPR News: Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help Melt It Away

Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help Melt It Away
A recent study found virtual reality experiences were better at easing pain than watching televised nature scenes. Immersive distraction seems key to the success, scientists say.

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NPR News: How Much Hotter Are The Oceans? The Answer Begins With A Bucket

How Much Hotter Are The Oceans? The Answer Begins With A Bucket
Scientists need to track the history of sea temperatures precisely to model climate change. A newly discovered clue in measurements taken by sailors in the 1930s could have far-reaching implications.

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NPR News: Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help Melt It Away

Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help Melt It Away
A recent study found virtual reality experiences were better at easing pain than watching televised nature scenes. Immersive distraction seems key to the success, scientists say.

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NPR News: Trolled Online, Women In Politics Fight To Hold Big Tech Accountable In The U.K.

Trolled Online, Women In Politics Fight To Hold Big Tech Accountable In The U.K.
The move in Europe to get tough on tech is partly thanks to an awakening that began with the experiences of women in politics.

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NPR News: How Much Hotter Are The Oceans? The Answer Begins With A Bucket

How Much Hotter Are The Oceans? The Answer Begins With A Bucket
Scientists need to track the history of sea temperatures precisely to model climate change. A newly discovered clue in measurements taken by sailors in the 1930s could have far-reaching implications.

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Sunday, August 18, 2019

NPR News: Denise Herzing: Do Dolphins Have A Language?

Denise Herzing: Do Dolphins Have A Language?
We know that dolphins make distinctive clicks and whistles. But is that a language? Researcher Denise Herzing thinks it might be — and for the past 35 years — she's been working on unlocking it.

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NPR News: This App Aims To Save New Moms' Lives

This App Aims To Save New Moms' Lives
The startup Mahmee hopes to help OB-GYNs, pediatricians and other health providers closely monitor a mother and baby's health so that any red flags can be assessed before they become life-threatening.

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NPR News: This App Aims To Save New Moms' Lives

This App Aims To Save New Moms' Lives
The startup Mahmee hopes to help OB-GYNs, pediatricians and other health providers closely monitor a mother and baby's health so that any red flags can be assessed before they become life-threatening.

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NPR News: How To Handle A Massive Seaweed Invasion? Yucatán Towns Get Creative

How To Handle A Massive Seaweed Invasion? Yucatán Towns Get Creative
Sargassum, a stinky algae, is choking beaches in Mexico and the Caribbean and wreaking havoc on the ecosystem — and tourism. From fertilizer to food, locals are experimenting with new uses for it.

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Saturday, August 17, 2019

NPR News: Pa. Workers Forced To Choose Between Watching Trump, No Pay Or Using Paid Time Off

Pa. Workers Forced To Choose Between Watching Trump, No Pay Or Using Paid Time Off
A memo instructed workers at a Pennsylvania plant to show up at 7 a.m., scan their ID cards and stand for hours through lunch in order to watch a speech by the president.

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NPR News: Workers In Pa. Forced To Choose Between Watching Trump, No Pay Or Using Paid Time Off

Workers In Pa. Forced To Choose Between Watching Trump, No Pay Or Using Paid Time Off
A memo instructed workers at a Pennsylvania plant to show up at 7 a.m., scan their ID cards and stand for hours through lunch in order to watch a speech by the president.

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NPR News: Critics Say Trump Administration Is Weakening Endangered Species Act

Critics Say Trump Administration Is Weakening Endangered Species Act
The Trump administration is changing how the Endangered Species Act is applied. Critics say it will limit consideration of climate change, but others question if there will be any impact at all.

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NPR News: Writer Joanna Schroeder On Preventing Teenage Boys From Turning To Hate

Writer Joanna Schroeder On Preventing Teenage Boys From Turning To Hate
White teenage boys are being exposed via social media to groups peddling hate. NPR's Scott Simon asks Joanna Schroeder how she talks to her kids about what they encounter online.

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NPR News: Mississippi River Flooding's Impact On Commercial Fishing

Mississippi River Flooding's Impact On Commercial Fishing
The Mississippi River is continuing to flood and all that water is devastating oyster harvests downstream. It's bad and getting worse.

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Friday, August 16, 2019

NPR News: How We Hear Our Own Voice Shapes How We See Ourselves And How Others See Us

How We Hear Our Own Voice Shapes How We See Ourselves And How Others See Us
At some point in our lives, many of us realize that the way we hear our own voice isn't the way others hear us. This gap has consequences. It shapes how we see ourselves and how others see us.

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NPR News: These Engineers Have Found A Way To Use Sweat For Some Medical Tests

These Engineers Have Found A Way To Use Sweat For Some Medical Tests
Engineers at the University of California Berkeley have developed a patch that can measure someone's sweat composition and sweat rate at the site of excretion.

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NPR News: Friday News Roundup - International

Friday News Roundup - International
Conflict in Kashmir, protests in Hong Kong and treatments for Ebola dominated the global news this week.

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NPR News: Friday News Roundup - Domestic

Friday News Roundup - Domestic
We cover the week’s top domestic stories, from immigration regulations to inverted yield curves.

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NPR News: Kirtland's Warbler Success Story Might Help The Future Of The Endangered Species Act

Kirtland's Warbler Success Story Might Help The Future Of The Endangered Species Act
The once nearly extinct Kirtland's warbler is creating a stir in the conservation world. People in Michigan and Wisconsin hope the success story will keep the Endangered Species Act alive.

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NASA Marshall to Lead Artemis Program’s Human Lunar Lander Development

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was joined Friday by U.S. Representatives Mo Brooks and Robert Aderholt of Alabama and Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to announce the center’s new role leading the agency’s Human Landing System Program for its return to the Moon by 2024.

August 16, 2019
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NASA Television Coverage Set for Uncrewed Soyuz Mission to Space Station

An uncrewed Russian Soyuz spacecraft is set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 11:38 p.m. EDT (8:38 a.m. Aug. 22 Baikonur time) on a test flight to validate the spacecraft’s compatibility with a revamped Soyuz booster rocket.

August 16, 2019
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NPR News: Deinse Herzing: Do Dolphins Have A Language?

Deinse Herzing: Do Dolphins Have A Language?
We know that dolphins make distinctive clicks and whistles. But is that a language? Researcher Denise Herzing thinks it might be — and for the past 35 years — she's been working on unlocking it.

Read more on NPR

NPR News: Barbara King: Do Animals Grieve?

Barbara King: Do Animals Grieve?
In 2018, an orca made headlines when she carried her dead calf on her back for weeks. Barbara King says this was a display of animal grief and explains how this changes our relationship with animals.

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NPR News: Devastating Banana Fungus Arrives In Colombia, Threatening The Fruit's Future

Devastating Banana Fungus Arrives In Colombia, Threatening The Fruit's Future
A fungus that has destroyed banana plantations in Asia is now in Latin America. The disease moves slowly, but there's no cure, and it could mean calamity for the continent's banana industry.

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NPR News: Devastating Banana Fungus Arrives In Colombia, Threatening The Fruit's Future

Devastating Banana Fungus Arrives In Colombia, Threatening The Fruit's Future
A fungus that has destroyed banana plantations in Asia is now in Latin America. The disease moves slowly, but there's no cure, and it could mean calamity for the continent's banana industry.

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Thursday, August 15, 2019

NPR News: These Experimental Shorts Are An 'Exosuit' That Boosts Endurance On The Trail

These Experimental Shorts Are An 'Exosuit' That Boosts Endurance On The Trail
No ordinary pair of shorts, these were designed by Harvard scientists to work with the wearer's own leg muscles when walking or running, and might make a soldier's heavy loads easier to carry.

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NPR News: These Experimental Shorts Are An 'Exosuit' That Boosts Endurance On The Trail

These Experimental Shorts Are An 'Exosuit' That Boosts Endurance On The Trail
No ordinary pair of shorts, these were designed by Harvard scientists to work with the wearer's own leg muscles when walking or running, and might make a soldier's heavy loads easier to carry.

Read more on NPR

NPR News: These Experimental Shorts Are An 'Exosuit' That Boosts Endurance On The Trail

These Experimental Shorts Are An 'Exosuit' That Boosts Endurance On The Trail
No ordinary pair of shorts, these were designed by Harvard scientists to work with the wearer's own leg muscles when walking or running, and might make a soldier's heavy loads easier to carry.

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NASA Selects Proposals to Demonstrate SmallSat Technologies to Study Interplanetary Space

NASA has selected two proposals to demonstrate small satellite technologies to improve science observations in deep space, which could help NASA develop better models to predict space weather events that can affect astronauts and spacecraft.

August 15, 2019
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Wednesday, August 14, 2019

NPR News: This Red Oak Tree Has Its Own Twitter And It Shares Insight About Climate Change

This Red Oak Tree Has Its Own Twitter And It Shares Insight About Climate Change
Deep in a forest of central Massachusetts stands an average red oak tree. Nothing is special about it, except for the fact that it tweets, offering insight into climate change.

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NPR News: Computer Science Professors Says We Can Probably Make Email Better For Everyone

Computer Science Professors Says We Can Probably Make Email Better For Everyone
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, about why people are rethinking the usefulness of email for effective work flow.

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NPR News: A Deadly Explosion In Russia Causes International Alarm

A Deadly Explosion In Russia Causes International Alarm
U.S. intelligence officials believe that a nuclear malfunction was behind the deadly blast.

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NPR News: In Defense Of Naked Mole Rats And What We Can Learn From Them

In Defense Of Naked Mole Rats And What We Can Learn From Them
Picture a pinkish, hairless, wrinkly rodent about the size of a small sweet potato. Researchers are studying naked mole rats to figure out what they can learn about longevity and health.

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New York Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station

SciGirls viewers from New York will have an opportunity on Monday, Aug. 19, to talk live with NASA astronaut Christina Koch aboard the International Space Station.

August 14, 2019
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NPR News: 'Lithium' Is A Homage To A Drug — And To The Renegade Side Of Science

'Lithium' Is A Homage To A Drug — And To The Renegade Side Of Science
By celebrating those who applied the metal as a drug, Walter A. Brown aims to raise awareness — and to demolish what remains of the myth that scientific progress is driven by rigorous dispassion.

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NPR News: Senator Pushes Bill To Curb 'Exploitative And Addictive' Social Media Practices

Senator Pushes Bill To Curb 'Exploitative And Addictive' Social Media Practices
The legislation by a freshman Republican senator would prohibit features like auto-play and infinite scrolling, used by social media companies to keep users on their platform longer.

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NPR News: Wet, Wild And High: Lakes and Rivers Wreak Havoc Across Midwest, South

Wet, Wild And High: Lakes and Rivers Wreak Havoc Across Midwest, South
Parts of the Mississippi have been above flood stage for months. All of the Great Lakes are at or near record-high levels. It's halting barge traffic, damaging infrastructure and eroding shorelines.

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Tuesday, August 13, 2019

NPR News: U.S. Air Regulators Ban MacBook Pros With Recalled Batteries From Flights

U.S. Air Regulators Ban MacBook Pros With Recalled Batteries From Flights
In June, Apple recalled MacBook Pro laptops sold between September 2015 and February 2017 due to batteries that posed a fire risk.

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NASA Administrator to Discuss Human Lander Update for Artemis Program

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, joined by U.S. Representatives Mo Brooks, Robert Aderholt, Scott DesJarlais and Brian Babin, will discuss updates on the agency’s plans for landing humans on the Moon by 2024 through the Artemis program at 3:10 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 16. The remarks will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

August 13, 2019
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NPR News: Why Utility Companies Are Key To Slowing Climate Change

Why Utility Companies Are Key To Slowing Climate Change
Some of the oldest companies in America are in the climate change debate. Utilities are supposed to deliver electricity cheaply and reliably. Now, regulators are trying to make them go green.

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NASA Awards Contract for Exploration Ground Systems Program Services

NASA has selected ARES Technical Services Corporation in Burlingame, California, to provide support services to the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

August 13, 2019
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NASA Selects Proposals to Further Study the Fundamental Nature of Space

NASA has selected two proposals for concept studies that could help us better understand the fundamental nature of space and how it changes in response to planetary atmospheres, radiation from the Sun, and interstellar particles.

August 13, 2019
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NPR News: Newark's Drinking Water Problem: Lead And Unreliable Filters

Newark's Drinking Water Problem: Lead And Unreliable Filters
Officials in the New Jersey city began to hand out water bottles this week after the Environmental Protection Agency said filtered drinking water samples exceeded government thresholds on lead levels.

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NASA TV to Air US Spacewalk, Briefing on Space Station Docking Port Install

Experts from NASA will preview an upcoming spacewalk with two American astronauts outside the International Space Station to complete the outfitting of docking ports during a briefing at 2 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 16, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

August 13, 2019
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NPR News: How Bad Is Pakistan's Plastic Bag Problem? See For Yourself

How Bad Is Pakistan's Plastic Bag Problem? See For Yourself
Prime Minister Imran Khan's ban on plastic bags in Pakistan goes into effect on August 14. Environmentalists say it's a good idea — but argue that the plan is flawed.

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NPR News: Hooked On The Internet, South Korean Teens Go Into Digital Detox

Hooked On The Internet, South Korean Teens Go Into Digital Detox
Online gaming and other digital activities cause problems in people's health, relationships and studies. Government centers treat teen boys and girls who struggle to cut down on use of tech devices.

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NPR News: Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science

Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science
There are many elements to consider: climate, animal welfare, greenhouse-gas emissions, land use. And with so many factors at play, sometimes the answer gets complicated.

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NPR News: Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science

Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here's The Science
There are many elements to consider: climate, animal welfare, greenhouse-gas emissions, land use. And with so many factors at play, sometimes the answer gets complicated.

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NPR News: Is Our Economy In The Upside Down?

Is Our Economy In The Upside Down?
Ten years after the financial crisis, it's like we're in another economic dimension. The old rules don't apply. Textbooks are being thrown out the window. It's time to talk about secular stagnation.

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NPR News: Why Are Salmon Being Found Dead In Rivers Across Western Alaska?

Why Are Salmon Being Found Dead In Rivers Across Western Alaska?
The largest die-off reported comes from the Koyukuk River, a tributary of the Yukon. Researchers suspect record warm waters as the cause but not all salmon are affected.

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Monday, August 12, 2019

NPR News: Trump Administration Makes Major Changes To Protections For Endangered Species

Trump Administration Makes Major Changes To Protections For Endangered Species
The Trump administration says major revisions will make the nation's landmark conservation law more efficient. Critics say it will hurt endangered plants and animals as they face mounting threats.

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NPR News: Trump Administration Makes Major Changes To Protections For Endangered Species

Trump Administration Makes Major Changes To Protections For Endangered Species
The Trump administration says major revisions will make the nation's landmark conservation law more efficient. Critics say it will hurt endangered plants and animals as they face mounting threats.

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NASA Mission Selects Final Four Site Candidates for Asteroid Sample Return

After months grappling with the rugged reality of asteroid Bennu’s surface, the team leading NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission has selected four potential sites for the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft to “tag” its cosmic dance partner.

August 12, 2019
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NPR News: What Parents May Not Realize When They Post About Their Kids Online

What Parents May Not Realize When They Post About Their Kids Online
Some say kids have a right to privacy online — and parents pose the greatest danger of violating that right.

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NPR News: 2 Experimental Ebola Drugs Saved Lives In Congo Outbreak

2 Experimental Ebola Drugs Saved Lives In Congo Outbreak
Drugs tested in the Democratic Republic of Congo are effective in treating Ebola, scientists say. They have run a study in the midst of a deadly epidemic and in the face of armed assaults on doctors.

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NPR News: Trump Draws Backlash From Wildlife Groups For Revisions To Endangered Species Act

Trump Draws Backlash From Wildlife Groups For Revisions To Endangered Species Act
The Trump administration is changing the way it enforces the Endangered Species Act. Critics say it will leave more plants and animals vulnerable to extinction.

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NPR News: 2 Experimental Ebola Drugs Saved Lives In Congo Outbreak

2 Experimental Ebola Drugs Saved Lives In Congo Outbreak
Drugs tested in the Democratic Republic of Congo are effective in treating Ebola, scientists say. They have run a study in the midst of a deadly epidemic and in the face of armed assaults on doctors.

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NPR News: In 'The Mosquito,' Humans Face A Predator More Deadly Than The Rest

In 'The Mosquito,' Humans Face A Predator More Deadly Than The Rest
Timothy C. Winegard has written an extremely well-researched work of narrative nonfiction that tells a history of the world through the role mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses have played in it.

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NPR News: With So Many Startups Growing Into Unicorns, Can They Still Be Magical?

With So Many Startups Growing Into Unicorns, Can They Still Be Magical?
Six years ago, "unicorn" became the name for startup tech companies valued at $1 billion or more. At the time, only 39 companies had earned the title. Since then, the club has grown to 484 members.

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Sunday, August 11, 2019

NPR News: Troll Watch: Trending Hashtags

Troll Watch: Trending Hashtags
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with journalist Emily Stewart.

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NPR News: Election Security Tested At Def Con

Election Security Tested At Def Con
Thousands of hackers are gathered this weekend for the Def Con conference in Las Vegas. On their list of things to hack: voting equipment.

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NPR News: With Congressional Blessing, Space Force Is Closer To Launch

With Congressional Blessing, Space Force Is Closer To Launch
It started as a joke, as President Trump riffed on the idea last year. Now, Congress could create the first, new military service in more than 70 years.

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Saturday, August 10, 2019

NPR News: Inside Saudi Arabia's Disinformation Campaign

Inside Saudi Arabia's Disinformation Campaign
A new investigation finds that Saudi Arabia is behind a disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting its enemies. NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks to the report's researcher of Bellingcat.

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NPR News: The Swaying Power Of Scented Spaces Isn't Always Right Under Our Nose

The Swaying Power Of Scented Spaces Isn't Always Right Under Our Nose
Can you lift the mood of a public space with a fragrance? Smell and taste researcher Dr. Alan Hirsch talks with NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer about the practice and its effects on mood and behavior.

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Friday, August 9, 2019

NPR News: A Look At The E-Verify Program And Its Blind Spots

A Look At The E-Verify Program And Its Blind Spots
At least four of the poultry processing plants ICE raided this week claimed to use E-Verify to vet workers. NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with economist Madeline Zavodny about how well E-Verify's works.

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NPR News: Scientists Find Out How Leaping Maggots Leap

Scientists Find Out How Leaping Maggots Leap
The scientists captured the acrobatic jumps of a tiny maggot-like creature with high-speed cameras to figure out how it does this trick with no arms, legs, or wings.

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NPR News: Scientists Find Out How Leaping Maggots Leap

Scientists Find Out How Leaping Maggots Leap
The scientists captured the acrobatic jumps of a tiny maggot-like creature with high-speed cameras to figure out how it does this trick with no arms, legs, or wings.

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NASA Invites Media to Drone Traffic Testing in Corpus Christi, Texas

As NASA continues the final stage of testing for its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) platform, the agency is inviting media to Corpus Christi, Texas, on Thursday, Aug. 15, to learn more about what it takes to fly drones safely in urban areas.

August 09, 2019
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NPR News: To Get A Gun License, First You Have To Plant 10 Trees

To Get A Gun License, First You Have To Plant 10 Trees
That's the new rule in Ferozepur, a district in India's Punjab state. As proof you have to submit a photo of yourself with your saplings.

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NPR News: What To Feed Locusts

What To Feed Locusts
Researchers at Arizona State University are studying locusts in hopes of finding better ways of preventing swarms from destroying crops.

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NPR News: Election Security At Def Con

Election Security At Def Con
The Def Con conference was once focused on hacker culture. But as election security has become a major focus, the conference is now filled with officials eager to work with the hacking community.

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Thursday, August 8, 2019

NPR News: Users Can Sue Facebook Over Facial Recognition Software, Court Rules

Users Can Sue Facebook Over Facial Recognition Software, Court Rules
A federal court said Facebook users in Illinois can sue the company over face recognition technology. Facebook said users can choose to turn off the feature. It plans to seek a review of the ruling.

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NPR News: Researchers Are Trying To Find A Solution To Cut Concrete's Carbon Emissions

Researchers Are Trying To Find A Solution To Cut Concrete's Carbon Emissions
Researchers are trying to make a cleaner concrete to cut greenhouse gas emissions and curb climate change. The industry is estimated to account for at least 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

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NPR News: Researchers Are Trying To Find A Solution To Cut Concrete's Carbon Emissions

Researchers Are Trying To Find A Solution To Cut Concrete's Carbon Emissions
Researchers are trying to make a cleaner concrete to cut greenhouse gas emissions and curb climate change. The industry is estimated to account for at least 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

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NPR News: Experts On Climate Change Say How We Use Land To Grow Food Needs To Change

Experts On Climate Change Say How We Use Land To Grow Food Needs To Change
Some of the world's top experts on climate change issued a new warning on Wednesday about how we use land to grow food. They say it's contributing to global warming, but it doesn't have to.

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NPR News: Experts On Climate Change Say How We Use Land To Grow Food Needs To Change

Experts On Climate Change Say How We Use Land To Grow Food Needs To Change
Some of the world's top experts on climate change issued a new warning on Wednesday about how we use land to grow food. They say it's contributing to global warming, but it doesn't have to.

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NASA Administrator to Discuss Status of Rocket for First Artemis Lunar Mission

Media are invited to accompany NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine Thursday, Aug. 15, on his visit to the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where engineers are preparing to add the final section to the core stage of the rocket that will power NASA’s Artemis 1 lunar mission.

August 08, 2019
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NPR News: A World Without Water

A World Without Water
A quarter of the world's population is at high risk of running out of water.

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NPR News: A World Without Water

A World Without Water
A quarter of the world's population is at high risk of running out of water.

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NPR News: A World Without Water

A World Without Water
A quarter of the world's population is at high risk of running out of water.

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NPR News: Snakes On A Plain: Invasive Species And How We Handle Them

Snakes On A Plain: Invasive Species And How We Handle Them
Go full monty on that python!

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NPR News: Snakes On A Plain: Invasive Species And How We Handle Them

Snakes On A Plain: Invasive Species And How We Handle Them
Go full monty on that python!

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NPR News: Covering The Threat Of White Supremacy

Covering The Threat Of White Supremacy
The El Paso gunman posted a racist manifesto on 8chan. How can media cover the threat of white supremacy without normalizing it?

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NPR News: U.N. Says Agriculture Must Change To Prevent Worst Effects Of Climate Change

U.N. Says Agriculture Must Change To Prevent Worst Effects Of Climate Change
Humans must drastically alter food production in order to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming, according to a U.N. report.

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NPR News: U.N. Says Agriculture Must Change To Prevent Worst Effects Of Climate Change

U.N. Says Agriculture Must Change To Prevent Worst Effects Of Climate Change
Humans must drastically alter food production in order to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming, according to a U.N. report.

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NPR News: Government Deadline Approaches To Ban Chinese-Made Surveillance Cameras

Government Deadline Approaches To Ban Chinese-Made Surveillance Cameras
There are thousands of Chinese-made surveillance cameras in government buildings across the United States. Congress is banning them Aug. 13, but it's unclear how that will be carried out.

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NPR News: Why Competition Hasn't Brought Down The High Price Of Snakebite Treatment

Why Competition Hasn't Brought Down The High Price Of Snakebite Treatment
The snakebite antivenin CroFab, on the U.S. market since 2000, now faces competition from a drug called Anavip. But both are expensive. "Perverse incentives" keep prices high, says one legal scholar.

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NPR News: To Slow Global Warming, U.N. Warns Agriculture Must Change

To Slow Global Warming, U.N. Warns Agriculture Must Change
The way we produce food and manage land must change radically if humans hope to avoid catastrophic global temperature rise, according to a new report by the United Nations panel on climate change.

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NPR News: To Slow Global Warming, U.N. Warns Agriculture Must Change

To Slow Global Warming, U.N. Warns Agriculture Must Change
The way we produce food and manage land must change radically if humans hope to avoid catastrophic global temperature rise, according to a new report by the United Nations panel on climate change.

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Wednesday, August 7, 2019

NPR News: Scientists Discover Prehistoric Giant 'Squawkzilla' Parrot, As Big As Small Child

Scientists Discover Prehistoric Giant 'Squawkzilla' Parrot, As Big As Small Child
The flightless bird weighed 15 pounds, was about 3 feet tall and probably feasted on other parrots. Study lead Trevor Worthy made the discovery after examining two 19 million-year-old leg bones.

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NPR News: Scientists Discover Prehistoric Giant 'Squawkzilla' Parrot, As Big As Small Child

Scientists Discover Prehistoric Giant 'Squawkzilla' Parrot, As Big As Small Child
The flightless bird weighed 15 pounds, was about 3 feet tall and probably feasted on other parrots. Study lead Trevor Worthy made the discovery after examining two 19 million-year-old leg bones.

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NPR News: A Mysterious Disease Is Killing Majestic Beech Trees In American Forests

A Mysterious Disease Is Killing Majestic Beech Trees In American Forests
A mysterious disease is killing one of the nation's most majestic trees. The beech is an important anchor species of mature forests, but scientists suspect a microscopic worm is attacking them.

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NPR News: Gun Violence Prevention Research

Gun Violence Prevention Research
NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis, about the shift in people's behaviors in the aftermath of mass shootings.

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NPR News: Understanding The Statements Of Mass Shooters

Understanding The Statements Of Mass Shooters
Rachel Martin talks with Patrick Blanchfield of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research about what we should focus on in the manifestos left behind and published by recent mass shooters.

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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

NPR News: In The Age Of Smartphones, Parents Are Encouraged To Be Media Mentors, Not Gatekeepers

In The Age Of Smartphones, Parents Are Encouraged To Be Media Mentors, Not Gatekeepers
Pediatricians and other experts are encouraging parents to mentor their kids in using screens, rather than be just gatekeepers.

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NPR News: Man Accused Of Bribing AT&T Employees In Conspiracy To Unlock Millions Of Phones

Man Accused Of Bribing AT&T Employees In Conspiracy To Unlock Millions Of Phones
U.S. officials say the Pakistani man committed the crimes as part of a business to unlock and resell stolen phones. At least three AT&T employees accused in the case are cooperating with authorities.

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NPR News: New Evidence Shows Popular Pesticides Could Cause Unintended Harm To Insects

New Evidence Shows Popular Pesticides Could Cause Unintended Harm To Insects
Studies are revealing new, unintended threats that neonicotinoid pesticides pose to insects. The chemicals, widely used by farmers, are difficult to control because they persist in the environment.

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NPR News: New Evidence Shows Popular Pesticides Could Cause Unintended Harm To Insects

New Evidence Shows Popular Pesticides Could Cause Unintended Harm To Insects
Studies are revealing new, unintended threats that neonicotinoid pesticides pose to insects. The chemicals, widely used by farmers, are difficult to control because they persist in the environment.

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